Florida car hire help?

[gazza5]

I had the 3.7 v6 convertable mustang (I ordered through hertz a coupe to hire, said rent this exact model and they didn't have it!)

Tried to offer me the upgrade of the V8 GT for about $300 - so took the v6 convertable.
I never felt short changed - I averaged 29 mpg (US) in it - we did 1300 miles driving miami to florida keys to clearwater sarasota etc, back to miami.

I didn't want the v8 mainly due to the fact I would want to ring its neck - and my missus is not good with fast cars - makes her ill.

V6 was plenty tbh.

Or just go for a v8 tahoe - your kids will love it - my four year old did - cried her eyes out when we got home to my astra diesel - one of the best cars I have rented - last time I had one it had 8 miles on it - horrible burning smell from exhaust - but that soon went with a flex of the right foot.

[Teddy Lop]

ThunderSpook said:

I was looking at hiring a Challenger in Orlando next year. The R/T is coming up as £1200 for just over 2 weeks, compared to £650 for a standard challenger (or similar). I don’t really need a car for the whole time, but looking at Hertz for example it only seems to be their airport location that does Challengers. We’ll be at Disney to start with and none of their locations near Disney have them.

I know Alamo are on site at Disney, but for a standard Challenger they want £2200!

Any suggestions? Will be for 2 adults and 2 children.

ours came out at £75/day few years back I think, the rate will vary a bit by season, more at weekends etc, but the r/t is always gonna be a chunk more than the v6 as the v6 might look the same but its a showy-but-not-performy car, although muscle isnt super expensive to buy in the US, to hire its like comparing a C63 versus a C220Dm-sport in the UK.

[ThunderSpook]

Having researched further apparently the Challenger is diabolical for people to see out of the back seats. I had feared that might be the case.

I’m now thinking Charger (seems to be too common now so is lumped in with boring cars like Camry’s as a group) or maybe just a big V8 SUV.

[Teddy Lop]

ThunderSpook said:

Having researched further apparently the Challenger is diabolical for people to see out of the back seats. I had feared that might be the case.

I’m now thinking Charger (seems to be too common now so is lumped in with boring cars like Camry’s as a group) or maybe just a big V8 SUV.

TBF for that length of time with rear seat pax its probably a better option, and after the muscle car, the nimitz-class main battle tank SUV must be the next in line uniquely amusing American experience. My brother in law has a Yukon Denali, its hilarious.

[Dave Brand]

ThunderSpook said:

Having researched further apparently the Challenger is diabolical for people to see out of the back seats. I had feared that might be the case.

I’m now thinking Charger (seems to be too common now so is lumped in with boring cars like Camry’s as a group) or maybe just a big V8 SUV.

I can't comment on the view out for rear seat passengers, as there's only ever the two of us, but Challenger 3/4 rear vision is a little bit limited, which can occasionally make pulling out of junctions awkward. No problem if you've got a co-driver you can rely on!

As for the Charger, see my previous post! Bear in mind that it's very unlikely that you'll be able to specifically reserve a Charger so you're taking a gamble as to what's on the lot when you pick the car up, but as it's classed as an ordinary full size car it's relatively cheap.

[ThunderSpook]

Dave Brand said:

I can't comment on the view out for rear seat passengers, as there's only ever the two of us, but Challenger 3/4 rear vision is a little bit limited, which can occasionally make pulling out of junctions awkward. No problem if you've got a co-driver you can rely on!

As for the Charger, see my previous post! Bear in mind that it's very unlikely that you'll be able to specifically reserve a Charger so you're taking a gamble as to what's on the lot when you pick the car up, but as it's classed as an ordinary full size car it's relatively cheap.

That’s my concern. Looking at the lists of what Hertz have in their groups it’s basivally a 4 door intermediate. That means Toyota Camry or Ford Mondeo equivalent, and I wouldn’t like that much. I can’t find anywhere you can specify a Charger.

[S8QUATTRO]

I’ve used Dollar four times, last trip I booked a mustang cab, they told me it wasn’t available when we got to the desk..USA is all about service, they offered me a VW Beetle cab instead and I asked for the manager, explained it was my lads birthday and we wanted a cool American motor, he came back a few mins later and offered me a Camaro. I was over 14 days and I asked how much extra, he says “$50” I said I’m not paying $50 a day for 14 days! And he says, “no sir, $50 total, we apologise for the delay etc” result 😀😀😀😀! Recommend dollar, also check about the Sunpass toll thingy, if you are driving to nasa, cocoa beach, Clearwater, you get your arse slapped with charges unless you have a pre paid pass, but google it for more info.

[Matt Harper]

S8QUATTRO said:

also check about the Sunpass toll thingy, if you are driving to nasa, cocoa beach, Clearwater, you get your arse slapped with charges unless you have a pre paid pass, but google it for more info.

Or you could just stop and pay the tolls when you encounter them.

[S8QUATTRO]

Matt Harper said:

S8QUATTRO said:

also check about the Sunpass toll thingy, if you are driving to nasa, cocoa beach, Clearwater, you get your arse slapped with charges unless you have a pre paid pass, but google it for more info.

Or you could just stop and pay the tolls when you encounter them.

I think it worked out a lot more, if you used more than 4 or 5 tolls from memory. I do remember checking it out and because I was using a few of the toll roads, it worked out cheaper the buy the sun pass

[Matt Harper]

S8QUATTRO said:

I think it worked out a lot more, if you used more than 4 or 5 tolls from memory. I do remember checking it out and because I was using a few of the toll roads, it worked out cheaper the buy the sun pass

I live in Central Florida - cash/SunPass - exactly the same, in fact it pisses me off that we don't get a break by using electronic payment for road tolls.
That said, there are a couple of toll booths on 275 in the Tampa Bay area that are now cashless - and those without SunPass are billed via the tag-reader.

[Sheepshanks]

Matt Harper said:

I live in Central Florida - cash/SunPass - exactly the same, in fact it pisses me off that we don't get a break by using electronic payment for road tolls.

We used a un-manned short link road from Old Lake Wilson Road onto I4 and it wasn’t obvious how much to pay so looked it up and it was 50c for cash and 26c electronically - so what do you have to do to get the electronic rate?

[silobass]

When we hired our car, the guy mentioned the sun passes and that it worked out the same except we had to pay an additional $2 per day(or something like that) for the pass, so to basically just pay as you go in cash.

[ghost83]

When I drove to Clearwater I can’t remember seeing any tolls but found them no stress whatsoever

[RC1807]

Adenauer said:

You need to clear out your cookies or something as that seems bonkers.

I've hired a Challenger R/T from Hertz for 10 days in January, pick up and drop off at Tampa Airport.

Your Vehicle:
Group V4 ISAR
(V4) Dodge Challenger R/T
Payment method:
Pay at Location
Visa ****
Rental Duration
1 Week at 503.49 USD 503.49 USD
3 Extra Days at 64.95 USD 194.85 USD
Included in the rates
Unlimited Miles Included
Airport Concession Recovery Fee
Loss Damage Waiver
Total Sales Tax
Liability Insurance Supplement
Customer Facility Charge
State Surcharge
Vehicle Licensing Cost Recovery
Energy Surcharge

Not included in the rates
Personal Insurance*
Premium Emergency Roadside Service*
Additional Driver Fee
Fuel

Returning to TPA, the nearest gas stations are NOT on the road to or around the airport itself, but almost 5 miles away, probably nearest being on W.Hillsborough (route 580).
Please check on WAZE or something before you get to the Airport and find there's no fuel available there.

Also, TPA car hire centre (or center ) is now out at a new purpose built multi-storey parking lot with a monorail connection from the airport terminal.
I managed to drop off a car, get back to the terminal, bag drop and to the gate (monorail + security) in <20 mins. I wouldn't recommend trying that if you've a heart condition!
That said, the changes at TPA in the last 2 years or so have been really impressive.

ENJOY!

[EJH]

I’m currently having “words,” with Hertz re: a booking I made to, “Reserve this Exact Model Group U6 PSAR - (U6) Chevrolet Corvette Stingray,” for collection from Miami at the end of next month. I had a look a couple of weeks ago and the class looked to have vanished so made a website enquiry.

Website enquiry - Please call Hertz UK
Call Hertz UK - We’ll look into it
Call back 2 days later - No record of call – no action taken - no way of recording action to take on system
Email - Response in 2 hours. Derisory offer made*
Follow-up emails - No response...

It seems that despite choosing "Reserve this Exact Model Group," Hertz have chosen to no longer offer the model group in question.

The derisory offer made was a choice of cars:

1 Where some are currently showing as sold out for my dates of travel
2 All are around ½ the rental rate of what I have paid for (no mention of partial refund) and
3 None particularly comparable and all with an MSRP more than $20k less than the Stingray.


6 follow-up emails have been sent (UK Service, Escalation Service, US Fleet Service) and neither a response nor an acknowledgement of any of these have, as yet, been received.

It’s remarkably shabby service, thus far.

[Matt Harper]

RC1807 said:

Returning to TPA, the nearest gas stations are NOT on the road to or around the airport itself, but almost 5 miles away, probably nearest being on W.Hillsborough (route 580).

This isn't good information - there are at least 3 gas stations on North Westshore Blvd - within a mile or so of the airport access road - the closest being less than half a mile.

[Sheepshanks]

EJH said:

6 follow-up emails have been sent (UK Service, Escalation Service, US Fleet Service) and neither a response nor an acknowledgement of any of these have, as yet, been received.

It’s remarkably shabby service, thus far.

I recognise I'm not their biggest customer, but for several years I've rented from Hertz in Orlando and every year I've had some level of issue. I've been blinded by getting a 'glitch' rate on a standard SUV some years ago and when I got there they didn't recognise it was prepaid. We'd been delayed and it was late so they gave me an Escalade which they charged $2000 for and said they'd sort it out, which, to be fair, they did.

One year I was charged for extra insurance despite specifically refusing it and it not appearing on the bill. Another year my details and credit card were used for a staff memeber to take a car out. Etc.

Last year I was supposed to be highlighted as a VIP. Despite specifically asking, they set the car up in the wrong terminal (MCO has two sides, A & B). They refused to get the assigned car and instead gave me the most ordinary car imaginable with a very much 'take it or leave it' attitude.


The other thing to be aware of with Hertz if you want your partner to drive is that it's a complete nightmare to get them added to rental agreement. The staff absolutely insist it's not necessary, but the document has in bold letter that only the renter can drive.

[djc206]

Sheepshanks said:

I recognise I'm not their biggest customer, but for several years I've rented from Hertz in Orlando and every year I've had some level of issue. I've been blinded by getting a 'glitch' rate on a standard SUV some years ago and when I got there they didn't recognise it was prepaid. We'd been delayed and it was late so they gave me an Escalade which they charged $2000 for and said they'd sort it out, which, to be fair, they did.

One year I was charged for extra insurance despite specifically refusing it and it not appearing on the bill. Another year my details and credit card were used for a staff memeber to take a car out. Etc.

Last year I was supposed to be highlighted as a VIP. Despite specifically asking, they set the car up in the wrong terminal (MCO has two sides, A & B). They refused to get the assigned car and instead gave me the most ordinary car imaginable with a very much 'take it or leave it' attitude.


The other thing to be aware of with Hertz if you want your partner to drive is that it's a complete nightmare to get them added to rental agreement. The staff absolutely insist it's not necessary, but the document has in bold letter that only the renter can drive.

On your last point some states and some companies automatically cover spouses, they don’t need to be added to the documents. We had this is Nevada recently with Hertz when I said “can I add my wife?” and the guy said she was already covered.

[Sheepshanks]

djc206 said:

On your last point some states and some companies automatically cover spouses, they don’t need to be added to the documents. We had this is Nevada recently with Hertz when I said “can I add my wife?” and the guy said she was already covered.

I'm confident that in the event of an accident it would be OK, but what I wanted was to see it written down somewhere. I'm probably being too British about it, but something that you could show a traffic cop if your wife got stopped and was asked to provide proof that she's authorised to drive.